Pack frame strap connection means

ABSTRACT

A strap connection means for pack frames wherein: a body member is provided with a slot and a folded strap is disposed in Ushaped disposition with the strap folded against itself and a retainer is disposed in the folded portion such that the thickness of the retainer and the strap folded on opposite sides thereof have an aggregate breadth greater than the breadth of the slot so that when the strap portions are pulled into the slot the retainer prevents the folded strap from being pulled through the slot and thereby locks the strap to the body. The body may be provided with either a horizontal bore or a vertical bore therein for connection to horizontal or vertical tubular frame members of a pack frame, or may be fixed to a flat plate-like pack frame. The strap portions fixed to the body may be adjustably disposed therein and connected to shoulder engaging straps or hip engaging belts of the frame suspension means of a pack frame.

United States Patent 91 [111 3,921,867

Farnbach Nov. 25, 1975 PACK FRAME STRAP CONNECTION I Primary ExaminerRobert G. Sheridan MEANS Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg [76] Inventor: Frederick A. Farnbach, Phoenix, Attorney Agent or Firm joseph Kivlin 57 ABSTRACT Assignee: Camp Trans Racme Wlsconsm A strap connection means for pack frames wherein: a [22] Filed: Sept 14, 1972 body member is provided with a slot and a folded strap is disposed in U-shaped disposition with the strap PP N04 288,966 folded against itself and a retainer is disposed in the folded portion such that the thickness of the retainer 52 us. Cl. 224/25 A; 24/196 and the Strap tthted Sides there have 51 Int. Cl. .l A45f 3/10 aggregate breadth greater than the breadth 0f the so that when the strap portions are pulled into the slot the retainer prevents the folded strap from being pulled through the slot and thereby locks the strap to [56] References Cited Lhebody.l ghe body may liebprovigied witth either a orizonta ore or a vertlca ore t erem or connec- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion to horizontal or vertical tubular frame members 1,054,818 3/l9l3 Bergan 224/25 A of a pack frame, or may be fixed to a flat plate like 22421244 5/ 1947 Daber 222/25 2 pack frame. The strap portions fixed to the body may ass? 12:22 5:25:11; ;;--2;2,; X be w shoulder engaging straps or hip engaging belts of the frame suspension means of a pack frame.

[58] Field of Search 224/25 A, 25 R, 8 R, 8 A, 224/6, 9, 10; 24/77, 79, 197, 196

3,648,907 3/1972 Romney 224/25 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 159,664 4/1905 Germany 224/25 A 5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 2 3,921,867

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,921,867

PACK FRAME STRAP CONNECTION MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many pack frames have utilized various buckles and other conventional multiple loop strap connectors for adjustably connecting various'straps such as shoulder straps and hip belt suspended straps in connection with a pack frame and in particular suspension straps connected to the lower ends of tubular members on conventional pack frames have utilized a great variety of fixtures such as metal loops, cross pins with various retainers, and many of these connection means have been used adjacent to conventional bumper caps on the lower ends of the tubular members of pack frames. Various prior art strap connection devices have required the use of two or three small parts which may be displaced when they are disconnected from pack frames and some of these require careful assembly attention during the production of assembled pack frames with suspension means thereon. Heretofore, various suspension straps were provided withmetal eyelets or the fixtures therein which were mounted on pins extending through tubular members of pack frames and in some suspension systems such fixtures were a limitation relative to adjustability of suspension straps in connection with shoulder engaging straps or hip engaging belts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a strap connection body which may be coupled to either vertical or horizontal tubular members of a pack frame or may be coupled to conventional flat plate-like back frames for adjustably connecting suspension straps extending from hip engaging belts or extending from shoulder engaging straps.

The strap connector body of the invention is provided with a slot in which a strap is folded against itself into contiguous U-shaped position within the slot and wherein a retainer pin is disposed in the loop shaped portion of the strap so as to provide for an overall aggregate thickness of the two portions of the strap and the pin which exceeds the breadth of the slot and thereby prevents the strap loop portion from being pulled through the slot. The connector body of the invention is preferably provided with a bore portion adapted to be disposed around tubular members of a tubular pack frame and the bore portion in the body may be disposed either vertically or horizontally relative to a vertical disposition of the strap retaining slot so as to provide for adjustable connection means for straps on various portions of a tubular pack frame. The slot in the body is preferably disposed in an up and down direction with opposite ends open upward and downward and adjacent the slot the body is provided with a bar portion forming one side of the slot and the loop shaped portionof the strap in the slot is disposed such that, the U-shaped portion and the retainer in the U-shaped portion are disposed at the upper open end of the slot and the adjacent portions of the strap are extending from the lowermost portion of the slot and are wrapped around a portion of the bar adjacentthe slot, the two strap portions when thus coupled to the lower end of a frame extend respectively to a shoulder strap and a hip engaging belt, thus providing a common adjustable connection for suspension straps coupled to the belt and the shoulder straps.

Upper portions of shoulder straps may be coupled to upper portions of a pack frame by the strap connector body structures of the invention and in this instance the connector bodies may be provided with either vertical or horizontal bore portions adapted to fit over respective vertical or horizontal frame members and the body portions may be fixed. to the frame members by set screws screw threaded in the body portions.

The connector body, when fitted to a lower open end of a tubular frame member at the lower portion of the frame, is provided with a resilient bumper cap and also a conical flaring shoulder adapted to engage the inner open end of the tubular member and flare it when the connector body is forced thereon such that outward flaring of the open end of the tube locks it in the bore of the connector body.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a novel strap connection means comprising a connector body having a slot therein and wherein a folded U-shaped portion of a strap is disposed such that two strap portions are in contiguous relation to each other in the slot and wherein a retainer pin is disposed in the loop shape portion between the contiguous strap portions to provide an aggregate thickness of the retainer and the strap portions greater than the breadth of the slot to prevent the retainer and the loop shape portion of the straps to be pulled through the slot thereby locking the strap portions in the connector body.

Another object of the'invention is to provide a strap connector body which adjustably connects suspension straps from a hip engaging belt and shoulder straps by a common adjustment means. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap connection means which-may be located on various areas of various pack frames for adjustably connecting and fixing various straps to the frame. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel strap connection means having a hollow body adapted to be fitted over the normally lower open ends of tubular members of pack frames and wherein a bumper structure is provided on the lower portion of the body and a flaring shoulder inside the body is adapted to flare the open ends of the tubular members against the internal bore of the body when the body is driven onto the open end of the frame, thereby providing frictional locking of the body on the lower ends of the respective frame. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a strap connection means which is adapted adjustably to connect both a hip engaging belt and shoulder engaging straps to the lower portions of a pack frame.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pack frame together with a hip engaging belt and shoulder straps, and showing strap connection means of the invention secured to the frame in various locations thereon;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a strap connector body of the invention together with a strap retainer and straps shown by broken lines and in exploded relation to the connector body;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view tkaen from the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the strap connection means of the invention disposed on a horizontal tubular member ofa pack frame such as that disclosed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a modification of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 4 and 9 but showing a modification of the invention comprising a strap connector body fixed tothe lower portion of a flat plate-like pack frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, a strap connector body of the invention is mounted on a lower hollow tubular portion 22 of a pack frame 24. The pack frame 24 is provided with a tubular member 26 having a lower portion similar to the portion 22 and another of the strap connection bodies 20 is disposed on the lower end of the tubular member 26.

These strap connector bodies 20, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, adjustably connect suspension strap portions 28 and 30 to a hip engaging belt 32 and a shoulder strap 34. These straps 32 and 34 comprise the major suspension means for the pack frame 24. The strap portion 28 is continuous and contiguous with the strap portion 30, as will be hereinafter described. Thus the continuous and integral strap portions 28 and 30, as shown in FIG. 3, may be assembled into a slot 35 of the strap connector body 20 by folding the continuous and integral strap portions 28 and 30 into a U-shaped loop 36 wherein a retainer-pin 38 is disposed so that when the loop 36 is pulled downwardly, the aggregate of thickness of the pin and the strap portions 28 and 30 exceeds the breadth of the slot 35 shown in detail in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slot 35 in the connector body 20 is provided with an upper open end 40 and a lower open end 42. Disposed at one side of the slot is a bar portion 44 having a smooth rounded lower edge 46.

It will be seen that the strap portions 28 and 30 are integral with each other at the loop portion 36 which surrounds the retainer pin 38 for substantially more than 180 and that the aggregate thickness of the strap portions 28 and 30 and the retainer pin 38 are greater than the breadth of the slot 35, thereby preventing the loop shaped portion 36 from being pulled downwardly through the slot 35.

Both strap portions 28 and 30 are contiguous with each other and extend downwardly and upwardly around a smooth rounded lower edge 46 of the bar 44 and the strap portions 28 and 30 extend upwardly into suspension connection with the hip surrounding belt and a respective shoulder strap 34.

The connector body 20 is provided with a bore 48 which fits in surrounding relation with the exterior 50 of the lower portion 22 of the hollow tubular structure of the frame 24. This lower frame member 22 is provided with a lower open end which is fitted around a conical flaring structure 52 forming a part of a shoulder disposed between the bore 48 and a reduced bore 54 in the connector body 20. The conical flaring portion 52, when driven into the open end of the tubular frame member, causes the end to be flared out to an enlarged diameter to lock into the bore 48 of the connector body 20.

Fitted in the reduced bore 54 is a neck portion 56 of a bumper pad 58 which is disposed in contiguous relation with a lower end 60 of the connector body 20. Integral with the neck 56 is a resilient buttress head portion 62 which engages a ledge 64 between the bore 48 and the reduced bore 54.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connector body 20 is provided with a pair of projections 66 and 68 extending above the open end 40 of the slot 35 in order to protect the loop shaped strap portion 36 around the retainer pin 38. Likewise, projections 70 and 72 are extended beyond the open end 42 of the slot 35 in order to protect the strap portions 28 and 30 as they extend around the smooth edge of the bar portion 44.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, strap connector bodies 74 are secured on vertical hollow tubular frame members 76 and 78, respectively, for supporting upper ends of the shoulder straps 34. The body 74, as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, is typical and it is provided with a vertical bore 80 extending therethrough, and this bore surrounds the vertical tubular member 78 of the frame 24.

The body 74 is provided with a slot 35 similar to the slot 35 hereinbefore described, and this slot is provided with upper and lower open ends 40 and 42, respectively, and a retainer pin 38 is similar to the retainer pin 38 shown in FIG. 4. Strap portions 82 and 84 are similar to the strap portions 28 and 30, hereinbefore described, the strap portion 82 being connected to a respective shoulder strap 34 and the strap portion 84 being in a downwardly directed suspended position as shown best in FIG. 5 of the drawings. It will be noted that the strap 82 is engaged around the lower smooth edge 46 of the bar 44.

Accordingly, the modified strap connector body shown in FIG. 5 is only different from that shown in FIG. 4 in that it does not have structure for flaring the tube or supporting the bumper cap 58. The body 74 does, however, have a set screw 86 screw threaded in an internally screw threaded bore 88 so as to engage the periphery 90 of the respective vertical frame member 78 and to thereby fix the body 74 on the tubular member 78 in various adjusted positions as may be desired.

As shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, the pack frame 26 may be modified to include vertical frame members 88 and 90 similar to the hereinbefore described member 22 and 26.

Coupled and fixed to the frame members 88 and 90 is a horizontal cross member 92 which may be located in the proximity of the hereinbefore described strap connection body member 74.

Mounted on the horizontal member 92 is a modified strap connection body 94 similar to the body 74 except that the body 94 is provided with a horizontal bore 96 and screw threaded in the side wall of the body 94 is a set screw 98 similar to the set screw 86 for securing the body 94 on the horizontal member 96.

It will be understood that a pair of the body member 94 may be located on the horizontal member 92 in appropriate positions to receive the strap portions 82 and 84 hereinbefore described and which are disposed in a slot 35 of the body 94 similar to the slot 35 hereinbefore described.

In the modification as shown in FIG. of the drawings, a flat plate-like pack frame 100 may be utilized and a flat strap connection body 102 constitutes a modification of the invention and may be fixed to the pack frame 100 by any suitable means such as an adhesive or may be integral therewith as desired.

This body 102 is provided with a slot 35 as hereinbefore described, with upper and lower open ends 40 and 42, and a bar portion 44, all as hereinbefore described,

the bar portion 44 having a lower smooth edge 46 around which the straps 28 and 30 may be engaged.

It will be understood that this strap connection body 102 may be located in various areas of the frame in a similar manner to the modifications of the body hereinbefore described.

In the modification as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, a modified body 104 may be similar to the body 20 except that it has an extending neck 106 which fits into an internal bore 108 at a lower open end 110 of a tubular frame member similar to the lower end of the tubular frame member 22 hereinbefore described. Thus the body 104 may be frictionally held by pressing the neck 106 into the lower open end of the bore 108, all as shown best in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

The strap portions 28 and 30, as well as the strap portions 82 and 84 hereinbefore described, may be adjusted by forming the respective loop portions 36 around the retainer pins and by forming the loop portions at any intermediate portion of the integral straps so that the respective lengths thereof may be adjusted proportionally, as for example, the strap portion 28 shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings may be lengthened or shortened depending upon the location of the loop 36 in which the retainer pin 38 is mounted. The retainer pin 38 at its opposite ends is disposed between the projection 66 and 68 when in the location as shown in FIG. 4 and all the other modifications of the invention hold the retainer pin 38 in the same position between respective projections.

The length of the strap portions 30, as shown in FIG. 1, may be adjusted relative to the shoulder straps 34 by conventional strap holders 110 which are common to the reverse looping of straps through successive parallel bar structures. As shown in FIG. 1 it will be seen that the strap portions 28 and 30, being integral with each other through the loop portions 36, are continuous from the connection with the hip belt 32 at 33 onto the upper ends of the strap portions which are connected with the strap holding fixtures 110 in connection with the shoulder engaging straps 34. Accordingly, the strap connection means of the invention, and particularly the connector 20, provides for a common suspension connection for the hip engaging belt as well as the shoulder straps with the frame 24.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. In a strap connection means for pack frames, the combination of:

a pack frame provided with a hollow tubular structural member at a normally lower portion of said frame;

a strap connector body coupled to said pack frame, said body defining a bore therethrough with said structural member extending within said bore, said connector body having a slot therein;

a folded strap disposed within said slot and having a generally U-shaped folded loop portion disposed at one end of said slot, with two strap portions extending from the other end of said slot in said connector body;

a retainer member disposed within said loop portion, the aggregate dimensions of said loop portion and said retainer member being greater than the breadth of said slot thereby locking said folded strap and loop shaped portion thereof in said slot with said folded strap and loop portion thereof pulled into said slot in a direction tending to force said retainer member toward said slot;

a shoulder engaging strap connected to one of said strap portions extending from said slot; and

a hip engaging belt coupled to the other one of said strap portions extending from said slot.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said slot is provided with first and second open ends directed upwardly and downwardly, respectively; said loop-portion of said folded strap and said retainer being disposed at said first upwardly directed end of said slot; a bar portion at one side of said slot and disposed at said downwardly directed end thereof; both of said strap portions extending downwardly from said retainer and in contiguous relation to each other and bearing on said bar portion and extending therearound from a downward direction to an upward direction toward said shoulder strap and said hip engaging belt, respectively.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: said frame is provided with a substantially vertical member having a lower open end; said bore of said body surrounding said lower open end of said tubular member; said bore having a reduced diameter portion with a shoulder structure adapted to abut said open end.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein: a bumper pad is disposed on the normally lower end of said body; said bumper pad having a neck disposed in said reduced bore; said neck having a compressible buttress head engaging said shoulder for retaining said bumper pad securely attached to said body.

5. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein: said shoulder is provided with a conical spreader portion engaging the interior of said tubular member at said open end thereof, whereby said body may be forced on said tubular member to cause said conical shoulder to flare said open end of said tubular member against said bore and to thereby lock said body on said tubular member. 

1. In a strap connection means for pack frames, the combination of: a pack frame provided with a hollow tubular structural member at a normally lower portion of said frame; a strap connector body coupled to said pack frame, said body defining a bore therethrough with said structural member extending within said bore, said connector body having a slot therein; a folded strap disposed within said slot and having a generally U-shaped folded loop portion disposed at one end of said slot, with two strap portions extending from the other end of said slot in said connector body; a retainer member disposed within said loop portion, the aggregate dimensions of said loop portion and said retainer member being greater than the breadth of said slot thereby locking said folded strap and loop shaped portion thereof in said slot with said folded strap and loop portion thereof pulled into said slot in a direction tending to force said retainer member toward said slot; a shoulder engaging strap connected to one of said strap portions extending from said slot; and a hip engaging belt coupled to the other one of said strap portions extending from said slot.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1, wherein: said slot is provided with first and second open ends directed upwardly and downwardly, respectively; said loop portion of said folded strap and said retainer being disposed at said first upwardly directed end of said slot; a bar portion at one side of said slot and disposed at said downwardly directed end thereof; both of said strap portions extending downwardly from said retainer and in contiguous relation to each other and bearing on said bar portion and extending therearound from a downward direction to an upward direction toward said shoulder strap and said hip engaging belt, respectively.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein: said frame is provided with a substantially vertical member having a lower open end; said bore of said body surrounding said lower open end of said tubular member; said bore having a reduced diameter portion with a shoulder structure adapted to abut said open end.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein: a bumPer pad is disposed on the normally lower end of said body; said bumper pad having a neck disposed in said reduced bore; said neck having a compressible buttress head engaging said shoulder for retaining said bumper pad securely attached to said body.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein: said shoulder is provided with a conical spreader portion engaging the interior of said tubular member at said open end thereof, whereby said body may be forced on said tubular member to cause said conical shoulder to flare said open end of said tubular member against said bore and to thereby lock said body on said tubular member. 